Disclaimer: I own only the character Raxie and the plotline that proceeds after Ramandu's island.
The next morning dawned chilly and sunny, the quintessential fall morning. Lucy, still wrapped tightly in her blankets shuffled over to the tent flap and poked her head out. The camp was nestled into a large bowl like glade that was bordered on one side by a small stream that provided them with fresh cleaning and drinking water. Three sides, including the side with the stream were flocked with a forest of evergreen and deciduous trees, proving adequate shelter from the winds that would blow in the winter. Some of the crew was up and about, calling out greetings to her as they finished setting up camp.
"Good morn, my lady." Christina approached Lucy's tent, arms laden with clothing. "I have made you some garments."
"Of course." Lucy backed up and Christina entered the tent that was large enough to comfortably house four people and was tall enough for someone of Caspian's height to stand tall and still have several inches of space left until he touched the canvas. Lucy huddled closer into her blankets as Christina laid out several dresses all in basic browns and natural tones as well as two pairs of breeches and several shirts over the main line of the tent.
"My father requested that I have these altered from some of my older garments to hold you while I make you several more garments that befit your rank and station." Christina told her as she stepped back, allowing Lucy to pick out a garment to wear.
"You'll make my clothes?" Lucy asked humbled.
"Naturally, my Queen." The stars daughter looked confused at Lucy's question. "It is only right. You are a guest on this island; you shouldn't have to do such labor."
Lucy, speechless, could only smile warmly in response.
"Will you need help dressing?"
"No thank you, I should be able to manage myself."
"Very well. I shall see you at breakfast." Christina nodded and disappeared outside, leaving Lucy alone to dress. Each of the garments were made of sturdy wool, cotton, and linen, but they were so finely woven that the cloths felt like satin to her skin. Lucy, tiered of wearing breeched chose a dress the color of deep rich cream with its matching undergarments, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't lace the back of the dress up. Lucy was just about to give up when she heard Caspian outside greeting the crew.
"Caspian?" Lucy called.
"Yes Lucy?" She heard his footsteps come closer to the flap of her tent.
"Um, I need your help with something."
"Well, come on out."
"I can't." Lucy's cheeks were burning with embarrassment as she held the front of the dress up to his her modesty.
"Are you…" Caspian paused inside her tent flap, sunlight streaming in around him. "…okay?"
Lucy turned to find Caspian staring at in stupification, eyes glued to her bare back. His eyes were wide as he took in the image of Lucy standing before him half dressed and requesting his assistance in securing the back of her dress. His jaw was clenched, and from across the space that was between them Lucy could see the muscle in Caspian's jaw jerking due to the strength of restraint he was exerting.
"Caspian?" Lucy held the front of the dress securely. "Some help here?"
"Oh, yeah, um sure." Caspian snapped out of his paralysis, dropping the tent flap and shutting them off from the outside world. She turned, presenting her back to him. Large, warm hands brushed her chemise clad back as he slowly laced her dress up. Lucy couldn't help shivering at the tickling sensations that crept up and down her spine as Caspian tied off the laces between her shoulder blades, fingertips stroking the skin. Caspian was drawing out the intimacy, making Lucy burn. She couldn't wait until they reached Narnia, married, and could do something about the attraction between them. Lucy was pulled out of her reverie at the feel of Caspian's soft lips caressing the nape of her neck, his arms slipping about her waist.
"Caspian?" Lucy whispered.
"Um?" Caspian's breath was warm and moist against her flesh.
"We need to meet, the others for breakfast." She turned to face him in the circle of his arms, meeting his warm and melting gaze.
"I know." He kissed her fully, cutting off her next response. Just like before the world, to Lucy, seemed to disappear and was replaced by the dark warmth Caspian inspired within her. If she doubted the power he held over her, she didn't doubt it know. They were so closely pressed together that Lucy barely knew where she ended and he began, all of it warmth and strength.
"Lucy." He sighed, pulling his lips away from hers. He pressed his forehead to hers, looking deeply into her eyes, breathing heavily.
"We need to join the others." She whispered, unwilling to leave his embrace.
"Come." Caspian pulled away, opening the tent flap for her. Lucy shook out the folds of her dress before striding into the early sunlight, greeting the new day.
"Good morn, Queen Lucy." Drinian greeted her, bowing slightly in a show of respect.
"Good morn, Drinian, men." She greeted everyone, hoping that her face wasn't as red as she thought. "Did you sleep well?"
There were many murmurs of assent from the men, all good comments. Lucy was glad for that, knowing that the men deserved their rest. Unfortunately all the rest in the world wouldn't fully prepare them for the trip home. Granted the dangers were lesser than before, but no less deadly.
"Good morn everyone." Christina greeted them. "Come and break your fast."
Many mornings followed this pattern. Lucy would wake, and when she would don a dress she would have Caspian assist her. Lucy would greet the men as everyone journeyed to the table to eat. During the day the man would do repairs to the ship or gather supplies to restock the stores on the Dawn Treader, Caspian often helping. Lucy would assist the men when able, gathering fruits and vegetables to dry for storage, repair sails and clean the ship. Christina was often seen sitting at the empty table during the day making clothing for not only for Lucy but some of the men as well.
One afternoon, the day before the official first day of winter, Lucy was gathering berries along the banks of a river not to far from the camp that cut right through the middle of Star Haven Island. It richly nourished the needs of the land and its plants and creatures. In the basket Lucy placed her plunder, hoarding it all away for the use of making jams and satisfying a persons craving for sweets. Lucy had found a thick patch of wild raspberries and was currently kneeling in front of the bush, plucking berries from the bottom when she heard a twig snap behind her.Turning Lucy saw nothing so she cautiously retuned to picking the berries, ears alert to any sound. She hoped that was a small animal, something friendly and not dangerous.
Edging closer to the bush she began to sing loudly and off key in hopes that it would scare off any animal that was within hearing distance. In the older days no one went into the forest alone in case an animal would come upon the travelers and it was aggressive, but Lucy had felt that since the island was Ramandu's that there wasn't anything to truly be afraid of. Finishing with that particular bush Lucy stood and moved onto the next bush, stepping cautiously.
"Surprise!" Caspian's voice whispered into her ear, loud despite her terrible singing. Lucy shrieked, jumping into the air and dropping the basket. Caspian rescued the basket in mid-air, saving Lucy's plunder, laughing merrily.
"Caspian!" Lucy scolded. "That was not funny."
"Don't be sour Lucy, I couldn't help myself." He sat the basket down on the ground beside their feet.
"Looking at you right now no one would guess that you are a King of Narnia." Lucy huffed, crossing her arms, trying to not smile at the man she loved. She tapped the toe of her boot, having dressed in an older tunic and breeched for her gathering.
"Aw, poor Lucy." Caspian slung his arms around her hips, pulling her against him. Despite the fact that she was miffed at him, Lucy couldn't help but melt against the heat radiating from his body. "Can't take a joke can we?"
"What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be with the crew right now?" She questioned, muscles slowly loosening against him.
"Looking for you, wanting you."
She looked up into his face, seeing his eyes dark and raw just like his voice. Caspian's eyes were a deep, stormy cloudy blue while his voice was like a deep rich chocolaty confection that was just as delightful as it was sinful. The expression on his face sparked an answering need deep within her that she didn't fully understand. All she knew is that what she wanted was hot, dark and secret. Slowly Caspian lowered his head to kiss Lucy, making her head spin and heat fill her every pore. They stood wrapped around each other, so close that not even light was able to separate the two.
"Caspian, we can't." Lucy managed to get out, pulling away from him enough to see his eyes.
"I know; we won't." Caspian assured her, combing his fingers through her hair, loosening the braid her growing hair had been wound into. "But I just can't stay away from you."
His lips caressed her cheek before moving down to her throat, nibbling her skin in delicious little bites. Large, hot hands settled on her, one at the nape of her neck and the other at the small of her back, accelerating the spread of his heat throughout her. Caspian's presence and heat engulfed her, drowning out the world and her thoughts, allowing her only to focus on the emotions he was stirring within her. Lucy felt wild and powerful in his arms, as if she were the most beautiful eighteen year old in the world. Well, eighteen in Narnia, and around sixteen back on Earth depending on how the time between the two worlds had shifted since she reentered the magical world.
Caspian's lips were warm and soft where they stroked the side of her neck, slowly seducing her into a passionate haze that she tried fighting but soon lost to. Slowly Caspian moved to the other side of her neck, making Lucy shiver all over again at the sensation of cool air touching the skin Caspian had just mapped with his lips. Lucy slid her fingers into his hair, twisting the golden locks into knots, trying to latch onto something real and substantial. While she was welcoming Caspian's intimate attentions, in the back of her mind she kept the knowledge that they couldn't go very far. Still, deep down she could wait until the wedding night and she would be able to let go of that small kernel of reality and enjoy herself and Caspian.
Something cold and wet brushing her forehead startled her out of the warm place she had created in her mind, jerking her eyes open to stare at the sky above. Gentle white blips were floating against a steel grey clouded sky. Another snowflake kissed her lips as Caspian kissed the pulse point at the base of her neck. Winter had come swiftly upon the two soon to be lovers, dropping more delicate pieces of ice upon them than it had already begun.
"Caspian!" Lucy gasped, jerking from his gasp as a cold snowflake managed to slip into the opening of her tunic.
"What? What happened?" Caspian pulled back, desire replaced by concern. His glorious face was flushed with desire and his eyes were still somewhat feverish, his breathing labored.
"It's snowing." Lucy pointedly looked up at the sky, Caspian doing the same.
"So it is." He agreed, bending and lifting the basket before offering his fee arm to Lucy. The snow was falling steadily by the time they reached the camp. The men had already set up the outer tents around the ones that already stood, the new canvas being coated with a waterproof and insulating resin made specifically for the winter and rainy seasons. Caspian and Lucy greeted the men as they made a beeline to their tents, intent on changing into something warmer.
"We must have a rendezvous like that again." Caspian leaned close as he murmured in her ear under the pretense of handing Lucy the basket. He brushed a kiss against her cheek.
"Yes, we must." Lucy smiled warmly, taking the basket in hand. "Especially once we are home."
A sly, secretive smile bloomed on Caspian's face, heating Lucy's blood. She ducked into her tent before she gave into the ever present desire to hang the traditions and take Caspian as her husband before they spoke their vows in Narnia. Outside Caspian chuckled before entering his own tent.